Thoughts on the Z6

One of the things that pull me to the Z6 is the in camera stabilizer, I like to shoot a lot with manual lens,

 

I appreciate that, but IS isn't necessarily going to fix bad technique. I use some manual lenses, and I'm not the most stable person. I'm forcing myself to improve my skills.

 

Have you tried a Z6, and found it advantageous in that area?

but IS isn't necessarily going to fix bad technique

The technology is there to push the envelope of handholdability.

 

It won't help a jot if there's subject movement, but it will allow you to take shots at a reasonable ISO in places that deny the use of tripods or flash, technique be damned.

600mm is the 2007 version with VR

Do you find the 2 stabilizing mechanisms fight cat and dog or play nicely?

Wot? Not even the water...? :p:D

Frozen.... o_O:):cool:

:D

 

Bambi on Ice?

Like many of the previous posters to this thread, I own a lovely selection of manual focus Nikkor F mount (Ai/Ai-S) lenses. I am thus concerned about their use on a Z6 with the adapter. I understand that shutter priority mode is not possible because the camera cannot adjust the aperture to a metered value (i.e. the aperture remains as set on the lens). I am a bit confused about what happens when one uses aperture priority (or manual) mode in the Z6. In these modes my D800 sets the aperture wide open while focussing but closes down the aperture immediately on exposure (to either the aperture set on the lens (M) or to the "correct" aperture determined by metering (A).)

 

My question: Does the aperture, as set on the lens, remain fixed while focussing? And, if so, how does this affect the ability to focus manually; in particular the brightness of the OVF? What other assists to manual focussing are available in the Z6? I would appreciate any comments from other users of manual focus Nikkors on this camera+ adapter.

The camera has no way to open or close the aperture. None. You set it and the camera does stop-down metering. I just tried my Z6 and FTZ with some of my AiS manual lenses. From all the negative stuff on-line, I thought it might be disappointing. Rubbish! It was great. Of course the lenses aren't going to autofocus, but the stop-down metering was fine in A or M mode. In-body VR was great. Having multiple non-CPU settings was great (my old D200 had just one.) Focus was excellent both with and without the peaking turned on. Yes, you'll probably want to open up for most accurate focusing, but it's OK at moderate apertures too. The lenses I treasure are my 50 mm f/1.2, 55 mm Micro-Nikkor and a nice 20 mm AiS for wide stuff. I'll mostly use the 24-70 I got with the camera, and the Micro-Nikkor for macro work, but it's nice to know all the rest of my lenses remain useful if I have a reason to use them. No, it's not like using the lenses on my F3HP, but the new features more than make up for what you lose.

Conrad, many thanks for your reply, and I am very happy to hear that you are satisfied with the performance with legacy lenses. I am a little confused by the meaning of "stop down metering". My guess is that this is just another way of saying that metering occurs with the lens stopped down to the aperture as set on the lens, as contrasted with the method used in most DSLR's, where metering occurs with the aperture wide open.

 

You set it and the camera does stop-down metering. Of course the lenses aren't going to autofocus, but the stop-down metering was fine in A or M mode.

I admit to not knowing the details or having read the manual, but the camera just meters on the stopped down intensity. Maybe I'm more tolerant than some, as I still remember those "preset" lenses of yore where you had two aperture rings. One was used to control the aperture itself and the other was a stop so you could set a value, say f/8, then stop the lens down entirely by the feel of hitting the stop. We've certainly come a ways!

I own a lovely selection of manual focus Nikkor F mount (Ai/Ai-S) lenses. I am thus concerned about their use on a Z6 with the adapter.

 

This article may shed some light: https://theartofphotography.tv/nikon-z-system/nikon-ftz-adapter/

If your are not happy with the current selection of Z lenses and F lenses are problematic at best, there is really no reason to stick with Nikon. You are FREE to consider other brands, Canon, Sony, etc.